(Winter Sunset won on career debut at the Fair Grounds / Photo Courtesy of Hodges Photography & the Fair Grounds)

Every day, we scour the work tabs at racetracks all over the country.  We are looking for workouts that may be of interest and helpful to you — as both race fans and handicappers.  Some of the horses we will be tracking, you will know.  Some of them, you may not know — as of yet.  We will keep a keen eye and stopwatch to see who may be working well:

  1. Conquest Tsunami, a 6YO gelding by Stormy Atlantic and trained by Peter Miller, was back on the training track for some real work this morning at Del Mar. The Ontario-bred worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 flat — which was the 2nd fastest time of the day out of 6 to go the distance. This one ran a nice second in the G3 Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, before going flat in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Finished 12th that day at Churchill Downs, and has not been seen since. This year, the gelding has a nice 2-2-1 record in 7 starts and has earned over $325,000. Look for a return to form in the next out on the West Coast.
  2. Way to Versailles, a 4YO Tizway filly also trained by Miller, worked this morning at Del Mar, as well. The gal went the fastest 5 furlongs of the day, clocking out in 1:00.80. In her last out, she ran fourth in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. Before that, though, she was third in the Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita and won a couple of nice races at Woodbine — including the G2 Royal North Stakes. Looks like she is getting race ready after today’s work.
  3. Tez, a 2YO colt by The Factor and trained by Tom Amoss, may be one worth keeping tabs on and following to the track next time out. Despite the fact that he is 0-for-3 to start the career, he does have a second and a third, and is highly regarded in the barn of one of the best trainers in the world. Ran third in the last out at Churchill Downs on Sept. 21 to a horse by the name of Ready to Forgive — a son of More Than Ready and trained by Ian Wilkes. That one may be a good one before his race career is said and done. Tea was well off the pace that day and was not able to make up much ground. But I think he could be real salty next time out. Worked for the first time since that last race today, and went 3 furlongs in :37 flat. That was 3rd of 11 to go the distance. Still could be aways off from a race, but worth watching.
  4. Bano Solo, a nice 2YO colt by Goldencents and trained by Steve Asmussen, has not been seen in the afternoons since he ran fourth in the G3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga back in July. Broke his maiden impressively on debut at Churchill Downs on June 23. But the colt was put to the task this morning at the Fair Grounds for his third consecutive published work. Went a half-mile in :51.60 — which was 24th of 32. Make no mistake. Went right? This is a good one. Watch for his return.
  5. Winter Sunset, a beautiful 2YO filly by Tapit and out of the wonder El Prado mare Winter Memories, was super impressive in winning her career debut at the Fair Grounds on Nov. 29. Hug the rail for much of the trip over the grass course that day, until she was asked for run. She provided that and then some, gapping out to an easy 5-length win that could have been more. Today, she got her first serious ask since the race and went 4 furlongs in :49.20. That was the 6th best time out of the 32 to work over the dirt surface. A good one here, fans.